In the late 60s, I watched “It Takes A Thief” featuring the handsome Robert Wagner. The main character was a cat burglar who got caught thieving and was recruited by the government to steal for Uncle Sam.
Connwaer got caught thieving by a magician. He also was recruited. But not to steal.
Conn may not be living on the streets anymore, but life is even more dangerous than before. At least he’s more likely to get a decent meal now that he’s a wizard’s apprentice.
I’ve read the first two books, The Magic Thief (HarperCollins, 2008) and The Magic Thief: Lost (HarperCollins, 2009), both by Sarah Prineas. Connwaer has caught my imagination and stolen my heart. I must know what’s going to happen to him next! And I will as soon as I get my hands on The Magic Thief: Found (HarperCollins, 2010). Fortunately, I am reading these in English. Those in Germany have to wait for book 3 till 2011.
Check out this extra, a map of the city of Wellmet, an interview of Sarah, and more at the publisher’s site.
Read about the author on her site. She has a blog entry on voice. She has a unique take on magic, which I won’t reveal here. (You have to read the books!)
I love the illustrator’s work with these books, too. See more of Antonio Javier Caparo’s work. I bet you’ll agree the work is lovely.
Category: MG Novels
middle grade novels (for 8-12 yo)
Chains
American Revolutionary War from a different viewpoint…
13-year-old Isabel was promised her freedom on the death of her owner, but the old lady’s heir sells her and her sister Ruth to an awful New York couple who are selfish. Set during the American revolution, Isabel gets hooked up in the fight for the country’s freedom to gain her own freedom. Isabel has such mixed feelings about her involvement with the revolutionaries – she gets betrayed by them and the British.
Chains (Simon and Schuster, 2008) by Laurie Halse Anderson is really good–of course. The sequel, Forge, has recently come out and is on my to be read list. I heard Laurie talk about the research she does for her books when she visited Kansas City* in October. One fact for Chains that she used was about women of the time wanting bushy eyebrows and used mouse fur!
Last week I also finished another of Laurie’s historical thrillers (as she calls her historicals) set not that much later. Fever 1793 (Simon and Schuster, 2000) is about the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. We often don’t appreciate how fortunate we are. This fascinating story reminds us.
Laurie’s site has extra information about both time periods, teacher resources, material aimed directly at students, and more.
*See my friend Lisha’s report with video.
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree
“Strange: adj, extraordinary, remarkable, singular”
I don’t know how I managed to miss this Golden Kite Honor book in 2008, but I’m glad I’ve caught up with this award winning book. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree (Dial, 2007) by Lauren Tarshis is told in two different viewpoints. And like Emma-Jean the 2nd definition of strange fits this delightful book.
Emma-Jean is the smartest girl in 7th grade and has been observing her class mates for a long time so knows all about their lives, even if she doesn’t really understand them. But when Colleen Pomerantz asks for help because Laura Gilroy is trying to steal her best friend Kaitlyn, Emma-Jean decides to get involved in their messy lives.
Colleen cares very much what others think of her and wishes she could be more like Emma-Jean who doesn’t care that others think she’s strange (definition 1, not 2). But when Laura cancels the ski trip with Kaitlyn, Colleen is suddenly afraid that Emma-Jean had a hand in it.
Then there’s the companion book, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love (Dial, 2009), which I need to get a hold of next. Though I might have to hide it from my husband so he doesn’t get it first–he definitely enjoyed Emma-Jean.
There’s an interview with author Lauren Tarshis here where she talks about her process. On her website, not only can you learn about her other books, but learn about her magazine editor job.
Hate That Cat
I’ve long wondered if there were any novels written in verse that didn’t have girl main characters. Now, I know there’s at least one. I stumbled across Hate That Cat (Joanna Cotler Books, 2008) by master writer Sharon Creech. In it I met Jack, and traveled through his school year with him. He made me laugh out loud a number of times as he himself is learning about poetry and poets. (Regarding the latter, he always wants to know if they are alive.) Jack also tugged on my heart strings. Isn’t he lucky to have Ms Stretchberry as his teacher? Again.
Now I’ve found out that Hate that Cat is a sequel to Love that Dog. Even though the second book revealed what happened to the dog, I still have to go get the story and read it. I think I might also need to share these books with my grandsons now that they are old enough.
Sharon shares the inspiration for these stories and tidbits about them on her site. Click on novels, then choose which one you want to read about.
Escaping the Tiger
Escaping the Tiger (Harper, 2010) by Laura Manivong is an eye-opening story that is so well written it reads like reality, not fiction. Inspired by her husband’s escape from Laos, this book is about 12-year-old Vonlai, nicknamed Skeleton Boy.
Go with him and his family on their journey to freedom. It’s a good reminder for all of us when we think life is tough. It’s a story kids need to hear!
Ms. Manivong has a blog on her website. A recent entry dealt with whitewashing of book covers. It’s an interesting read.